Mining machine



Nov. 28, 1944.

I T. w. JONES MINING MACHINE Filed Jan. 51, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. Z4 Z E 14/. JONES Afforwey Nov. 28, 1944. T. w. JONES 2,363,969

MINING MACHINE Filed Jan. 51, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 7 FIG. 4 INVENTOR.

72125 JONES A HOP/79 'r. w. JONES MINING MACHINE Filed Jan. 31, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 7 INVENTORQ 7225 14 JONES BY A Horne Patented Nov. 28, 1944 UNITED Y TA S. AT

OFFICE B'Ihis invention relates to improvements :Lin-

mining, machines and hasreferencemore particularly to rmachines of, the type'employedin thermi-ningof deep veins of coaleither anthracite or bituminous and-Which can, of COUISGgfilSQbe,

used in connection. :with. lignite or anyaother" form 0?: coal, z-as; well'ras gypsum and shale.

Various powerlopera-ted. mining machines have been invented and are extensively "employed for coal mining, some of these are provided with cutter -,bars; that will undercut a coal-veinaand which can also be employed for makingvertical cutsuor'kerfsso as to divide the vein into 1 layers orsquares thatjean be readily broken, eitherrby means of explosives or some mechanical break-- ing: devices.

.At' present the trend 'for home consumption of fuel-:isiin the direction of: automatic coal stokers which require coal-of certain degrees of finenessand this has reduced the demand for Imperial. Where coal ismi nedin the form of-large lumps, it. must be crushed and screened in. order .tomake: it-suitable for StOkEI use. j

It is an object :of this-invention'to produceaa mining, machine that. .will deliver the coal in substantially the proper size for stokerw useiiandi A transmission being. so designed as to .pern1it-operation in any relative longitudinal position.

Another object of this invention is.to produce a mining machine in-WhiGhthe operationof the cutter head assemblyrcan be-=adjusted independently def -t the propulsive .power' of the machina-so'-as to obtain the .proper re1at10nsh1p between the forwardtspeed/atwhich the cutter I cut iromthe floor. to the ceil-ing which will therefore .obviatetthe necessityiot crushing-.rafter the coal has been mined.

. 'Another object of this invention -is.,to produce,-

a. -machine of such. construction that the cutter ing spaces on each side :betweenthe-cutten chains.

and'inthe. verticali-side" walls of the i'kBiffiWhmh spacespwill. repairs:to ibe'efiectedzwithout withdrawing"theicutterhead assemblies.

FqAnother: object :of this 'invention is to produce a mining-vmachinerof the*type-specified' imwhieh.

the a-coal will be :moved -rearwardly along-the centenline of the kerfinpositionto? be: deposited on-ispower operated :conveyors which will-+remove.

the; cQalLtQt-herear of the-.m-iningr-machine and.

depositi'the ,sameronirmine; cars-or trucks. i

@A further robjectfiof" this invention is. to ':--produce -a mining: machine :of'ithe type specified in which s-thezmining machine can "be moved .long-itudinallynwithrespect: to: the conveyor without aflfec'ting: the operation efathe latter, the power grammatic manner;

The; aboveand any other objects-that-may -become 1 apparent as. a this description proceeds are attained by means of a construction and an arrangement of parts that willv now betdescribed in detail, anclior this gpnrposereference will be had to the accompanyingdrawings in which'the l inventionzhas been illustrated and in'whi-ch:

Figurei1qis a side elevationcof the machine showing the same. inoperative-position, some of the parts;z heinge-shown -in a-more orless diaure. 2. is ya rearelevation looking inthe direction ofiarrow 2,1Figure1; I

Figure 3 is i a section taken on.- line- 3--3, Figure-4; I 1

4 is a top planmview looking =in ;the direction of -;arrowt l, 'l'iigur.e--3,;parts of the ma chine being broken-away. i

5.- isa sectionitaken .onl-ine 5-95., Fig--.

ure 4.;

.iFigure'fi :is-a view looking-iin the direction oi:arrow .-6.,iFie;ure-- 3, :portions: of? the mechanism heing'indicated byhrckcn: lines; and insure. .7 :is: :a section" taken, onrline T-J, Fig- 511D- .the drawings :referenceimnner'al t0. desig- 1 hates; 'thiflflfil' of. the 5 mine, and: references numetal ll designates ordinaryniinez railway. rails, which." support the. mining L machine. The con mctioni of the. machinevhas, to: same extent,

, been shown in a simplified manner so as to enable zt-he'essential kfeaturesvto be:more clearly disclosed. "Theirame'or carriage of the 'mining machine Pconsists oi side members l2 and suitable wtransverse members" i3. 'I'hewheels l I 4 have: beenv shown-as. independentlymounted on the frame for a purpose which will hereinafter appear. Supported on the carriage is a motor l5, which, in the present embodiment, has been shown as provided with a front transmission I6 and a rear transmission Gear shift levers l8 and I9 control the gear ratios in transmissions i6 and H, respectively. Ordinary clutches may be interposed between the engine and the transmissions, if desired in the manner in which such clutches are employed in connection with automotive vehicles. In the embodiment illustrated, power is transmitted from the" motor to the horizontal transverse shafts and 2| by means of suitable gears positioned in the transmission housings. These gears may .be either tions 36. The tops of the guide members are connected by means of a plate 31 that is secured in position by suitable bolts 38. Lifting screws 39 are journalled at the bottom and at the top in the parts designated by reference numerals 36 and 38.

Referring now more particularly to Figure 4, it will be seen that the vertical guides 33' and 34 are each provided on their front sides with dovetail slots 40. that serve as means for adjustably mounting the cutter head frame or assembly which will now be described.

The cutter head assembly has been shown as comprising a' supporting frame or steel casting the ordinary bevel gears, or of they worm gear has been secured. A conveyor belt encircles the rollers 23 and 24 and travels in the direction of the arrow when the conveyor is operated. The conveyor may terminate in an upwardly inclined conveyor 26, whose purpose is to elevate the coal to a sufficient height to deposit it in the mine 36 cars or trucks. p

The actual construction ofthe conveyor frame has been purposely omitted for the sake of simplicity as it is evident that the exact details of construction of the frame is not essential to a complete'understa'nding as such belt conveyors are well known and of many specifically different constructions.

Since it is necessary that the mining machine shall move in the'direction of thelength of the 5 .conveyor', while the latter remains stationary,a

means for transmitting power from the shaft 2| to the conveyor which will permit this relative movement, has been shown and will now be described. v

Secured to shaft 2| is a pulley 21 and secured to the under surface of the support frame member |2 are two idler pulleys 28 and 29. Another idler pulley 30 is secured to the conveyor frame. A suitable rope or V-belt-or sprocket chain like that designated by reference numeral 3|,- passes around the drive pulley 21 and over the idler 28, thence forwardly and around the idler 30, thence rearwardly and around the pulley 32',

' which is connected with the drive roller 24.

From here the belt returns to the drive pulley 21, after passing around the idler 29. It will be seen that by means of this-belt orrope drive, the length of the belt is not affected by the relathe conveyor and the latter can therefore re-' main stationary,"while the mining machine advances without in any way affecting the trans,- mission of power forthe operation of the conveyor.

Secured to the frameof the machine and extending vertically are 'two guides 33 "and'34; These guides are held in vertical position by means of diagonal braces 35 and are provided at" 4| having the general shape of a truncated isosceles triangle in the manner indicated in Figure 4. Adjacent the vertex, the frame is provided with laterally extending portions 42 having dovetail extensions 43 that engage in the slots 40. The lateral extensions are provided with notches 44 in which are positioned the nuts 45 that cooperate with the vertical screws 39.

The nuts are in the form of worm gears. A shaft 45 extends transversely and carries worms that cooperate with the worm gear nuts 45 in such a way that when shaft 46is rotated, it imparts a simultaneous and equal rotation to the worm gear nuts, thereby raising and lowering the frame with respect to the supporting guides. With this construction, thescrews 39 are held against rotation. The rear end of the casting 4| is provided with recesses 41 in which are located the worm gears 48 which are shown most clearly in Figure '7 A 'drive shaft 49 extends from the motor 50 and is provided with a worm 5| that is positioned between the two worm gears 48 and operatively connected with both. When".

I ever shaft 49 rotates, the worm gears 48 will turn in opposite directions and at the same speed. Vertical shafts 52' each carries a worm gear 48 that is nonrotatably connected therewith and each shaft also carries two sprocket wheels 53, one located above and the other below the worm gears 48. Cutter chains '54 are' connected with the sprocket chains in the manner shown in Figure 4 and move around the frames in opposite directions as will now'be described.

The front end of frame 4| is provided with vertically spaced bearing blocks55 and 56. 'On oppositesides of the .center line of the frame,

two shafts 51 and 58 are journaled in bearings in the bearing blocks 'and'are each provided with four sprocket wheels like those designated by tive longitudinal movement of the machine, and

reference numeral 59 in Figure 4. The cutter chains .54 extend forwardly from the sprockets 53 and thence around the two sprocket wheels at the front of the frame and thence rearwardly along the hypothenuse of the right angle triangle which they enclose as shown in Figure 4;" Connecting the sprocket wheels positioned above those enclosed by the cutter chains 54' are short cutter chains 54a that extend transversely, as indicated in Figure 4. The frame 4| is provided with an elongated opening 60 through which the coal may drop onto the conveyorbeneath.

Frame '4| is provided with a rearward extension that terminates in a platform 6| on which the motor 58 is supported. Motor 5| is provided with the ordinary motor controls and is of the type whose characteristics adapt it for this use. Particular attention is directed at this point to. the fact that by means of the construction. shown and described, the cutter head assembly 'can be lowered so as to bring the lower surface.

their lower ends with forwardlyextending por ofv the lowermost cutter chain 54 to th el the coal is always delivered along the center line theaupper surface of the 'uppermost transverse cutter chain fida'zwill be on-'-- the 3 level with ithe ceiling line, which hascbeen designated'i by 1 ref- Since the conveyor can be the :rear: of rearniost portion; of. platform" :l

and iai'ter'thii's :"has :beienfinished .thewmachine canitherizbe; moved andmaised ,soias: to cut another dierfsof: the; same thickness above.-

retracted toe: such u a a position? that 1 th front: end athereofa wilhb i-to I ors thel.floor midi-raised tolx uch a pcsitiori-ithat' I ixl-Iayingidasorihed' the whatzistclatimed asvnew is: 1 1 r 7 i 31 .1111 9. mining" aeroplane-,1 cutter chains enclosing :areas -ofatruncated rrightsangle and lthis canine continuedauntil thertop .coi: ithe;

vein-shascbeen reached. y V. ;;Reterring1now":more particularly-etc; Figurenal,

attention is :called ;;to.- the: shape. of :the 1 cutter headrzassembly and rtn the fact that itS'Wid-e'st' portion isat-thefiront cndcand :that thezsides: slant reamardilyiat a unifornrrrateisorasto:form-V in eitectzanrisoscelesitriangle, JIhe vertical :wall.

ofithezherr cutczbytthermachinevhas, beensdesi natedibyr referencenumeral fifi and-from Figure-14,.

itrmill be seemthat due toythentri'angzular' shape ofythe cutter-mead, assemb1y,;:there is always ma: substantiakspace :between :the "side; wall I and; the;

cutter chairrra'nd thismakesitpossible forzth-e.

operatorato renter 1 and make-w repairs :if'e occasion shouldvre uire, without, retractin the. eutter head fertthis-purpose. I

eAttentiomis fnrthercalled to therflcfithatgth:

' ner shown in Figure l, the center delivery of the coal is a desirable feature because it concentrates the stream of coal at the middle of the kerf or cut and delivers it onto the conveyor in the direction of the arrows.

In Figure 5, a transverse section taken on line 55, Figure 4, has been shown and in this section Z-b-ars 65 and especially constructed bars 66 of the shape shownhave been indicated so as to give support to the chains, if this should be found desirable or necessary. r

In the drawings and in this description the machine has been shown as mounted on tracks l0 and provided with flange wheels M. This is believed to be a desirable construction, butit can be replaced by means of the ordinary cater pillar treads, if desired.

Particular attention is called to the shape of" the cutter head assembly, to the unitary construction thereof and to the fact that the movement of the cutter chains andtheir relation to the cutter head assembly is such that the sides are always accessible in case repairs are needed and of the kerf or cut. 7 I

Particular attention is also directed to the fact the inclinedsides which provide the space between the sidewall 63 makes this space available for repairs, whereas if similarly shaped cutter triangle shape, a .hori-zontalrframe -for: support i-ngthe' chains moving said cutter: chains: ini opposite; directions with their aadjacent sides traveling .1 towards therrear whereby middle line; thereof; an'dzwhereby wedge-shaped spaces-willi'berprovided betweene the vertical walls;

ofi-thewkerfe and the outer sid'es ofothecutterzarms.

' "2.311112. mining; machine. having a; supporting frame provided at: its: forward end with at. 1 least: two spaced. :v ertical gt-1ides,is a outtenheadirframe connectediwitlr the: guides for vertical;movement, means:= for qmovin'g ethe; :cutter headsframe VIti-+ cally along:the yguides,s.-the. frame; extending ini a horizontal planei and having the general shaperof a truncated isoscelesvtriangle with its base-"-ia.t: the @front, a plurality of separate, vertically spaced .1; pairs of :kerf icuttingtchains. carried the: frame, :thelv chains. of each pairibeingcinscw relationj withztheir adjacentsides extend-' ing parallel-withuthe medianlinepf thetriangle and -spaced apart, :and 'ameans; for :moving' :the

chains miaa'direction' to movethe ropposedaazdjae u centisi'desirearward lm whereby aforwardlyvtapering space will be; formed; between Ether vertical side walls of theakerf and i the forwardlyi 'flaring sides of: the-:cutter-head' frame, and: whereby coal loosenedsbwthecutter chains will be moved rearwardly' alongi the. median lineofi the? framei 'lntaminingzma'chine; in'combinatiommsup porting carriage, two spaced guides at the front of the carriage and projecting'vertically therefrom, a cutter head assembly connected with the guides, for relative vertical movement, means for raising and lowering the cutter head assemthat the planes of the cutter chains ar horizontal instead of vertical and that for this reason headassemblies are operated with the planes'of the cutter chains vertical, the shape would have no particular significance so far as accessibility to the parts for the purpose of repair is concerned.

bly along the guides, said cutter headassembly comprising a frameiof substantially truncated isosceles triangle shape, supported adjacent its vertex from the guides, in horizontal coplanar relation with its base at the front end, drive shafts journalled in the frame adjacent the support, cutter chains carried by said frame in coplanar relation and driven by said shafts in such a direction that thetwo chains travel rearward.-

ly adjacent themedian line of the frame, whereby coal cut by the chains will be removed from the out along the center thereof, and means for rotating the shafts in opposite directions, comprising a worm gear oneach shaft and a power driven worm positioned between and in operative engagement with'both worm gears.

4. In a kerf cutting mining machine, in combination, a supporting carriage mounted for movement along the mine floor, means comprising a motor for moving the carriage, a 'conveyor having. a conveyor belt positioned underneath the carriage, the carriage and conveyor being relatively movablein the direction of the length of the conveyor, means comprising said motor for operating the conveyor belt, said means also including a drive pulley operatively connected with e the conveyor, an idlerpulley secured to the conveyor and spaced from the drive pulley, a cooperating drive pulley operated by the motor, two spaced idler pulleys attached to the carriage and positioned beneath the last named drive pulley in coplanar relation thereto, and an endless power transmitting belt encircling the motor driven power pulley, the power pulley connected with the conveyor, the idler pulley connected with the conveyor and passing over the idler pulley connected with the carriage, whereby the carriage can be moved longitudinally :with respect to the conveyor without, affecting the oper ativeness of the means for transmitting power from'the motor to the conveyor. i

5. In a kerf cutting mining machine, in combination, a carriage, supporting wheels therefor, a motor supported on the carriage, means for rotating at least one of the wheels by 'power derived from the motor, said means comprising a speed reduction mechanism and a clutch, two vertical guide members projecting upwardly from the front end of the carriage, a cutter head assembly connected with the guide members for vertical adjustment, means for raising and lowering the cutter assembly, said assembly comprising a frame of truncated isosceles triangle shape supported in horizontal coplanar position, the base of said frame being at the front, two drive shafts operatively connected with the frame adjacent the truncated end thereof, a sprocket wheel carried by each shaft, cutter chains extending around the peripheriesoi the right triangular areas on each side of themedian line of the frame and operatively connected with the sprocket wheels, means for rotating the sprocket wheels in opopsite directions comprising worm gears connected with the shafts in coplanar relation and a worm positionedbetween the worm gears for transmitting motion simultaneously to both shafts to effect notation in opposite directions, whereby the chains will be moved about their frames, the cutter chains moving rearwardly along the bases of the right triangular areas,

whereby coal removed from the cut will befldelivered along the center line thereof, a conveyor positioned underneath the carriage and underneath the cutter head assembly, whereby coal removed by the cutter chains will be deposited on the conveyor. I i

6. In a mining machine, a cutter headassembly comprising a frame of substantially truncated isosceles triangular shape,means adjacent the vertex thereof for supporting it in horizontal position, the frame having two drive shafts adjacent the point of support, one on each side of the median line of the frame, a. sprocket wheel on each shaft, a Worm gear oneach shaft, spaced from the sprocket wheel, a worm positioned between the worm wheels and operatively connected with both, whereby when the worm is rotated by power, the two sprocket wheels will be rotated in opposite direction, the frame having four sprocket wheels adjacent the base, positioned in a substantially straight line normal to the median line of the frame and adjacent-the'base thereof, there being one pair on each side of the median line, a cutter chain enclosing the three sprockets, chains on each side of the median line enclosing substantially right triangular areas, those portions of the chains that are parallel with the median line being spaced, and an auxiliary cutter chain secured to the frame in spaced parallel relation to the main chain, and two sprocket wheels for each auxiliary chain concentric with the two outer sprocket wheels of each main chain.

' TAZE'W. JONES. 

